Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-09-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Touching Incident.

The season of music was closing.
Satiated with praise Parepa Rosa
drew her fur wrap about her shout
ders, and stepping from the private
entrance of the Grand" was about
to enter her carriage when "Please
miladi," in a low, pleasing accents
arrested her attention. 1t was only
t~he''shrunken, misshapen form of little
Elfin, the Italian street-singer, with
his old violin under his arm !; but the
face upturned in the gas light, though
pale and pinched, was as delicately
cut as a cameo, while the eager, visit
full light in the great brilliant eyes,
the CULVER of entreaty in the soft
Italian voice, held her for a moment
against her escorts cndeayor to a v
her the annoyance of hearing a beg
gar's:plea. -
WELL" said the great singer,
half impatient, but full of pity.
Would miladi please?' in sweet,
broken English, and the slender,
brown hands of the dwarf held up a
fragrant white lily with a crystal
drop in its golden heart.
"Do you mean this lovely flower
for me-"
A passionate gesture was the an
swer.
Taking the flower Parepa Rosa
bent her stately head.
"You heard me sing?"
"Miladi, 1 hid under the STAIR
Twas yesterday l heard the voice.
Oh, miladi, miladi, 1 could die!" 3!
The words came brokenly from
quivering lips passionately in earnest.
The loud voice of the world she had
just left had never shown Parepa
Rosa the power of her grand voice as
she saw it. now in these soft, dark
eyes ahame and in the sobbing bro
ken words, 'ttOh, miladi, miladi, 1
could die!".
"Child," and her voice trembled,
"meet me here tomorrow at 5
o'clock; - and holding the lily caress-
ingly to her cheek she stepped into
her carriage and was driven away.
1t was Parepa Rosa's last night
In a box near the stage sat little
Elfin like one entranced. Grandly
the clear voice swelled its triumphant
chords and rang amid the arches
with unearthly power and sweetness.
The slight frame of the boy swayed
and shook, and a look so rapt, so in
tense, came on his face. you knew his
very heart was stifled. Then the
wondrous voice thrilled him softly,
like the faint sound of bugles in the
early morn again its sweetness stole
over you like the distant chimes of
vesper bells. Encore after encore
followed. The curtain rolled up for
the last time, and as simply as posi-
bic the manager told the audience of
last nights incident, and announced
that Parepa Rosa's farewell to them
would be the simple ballad warbled
many a bitter day through the city
streets by little Elin, the italian mu-
stefan.
Loud and prolonged was the APP
plause, and at the first pause, sweep
ing with royal grace, came Il queen
of song. At her breast was the fra
grant lily. Queen, too, by right of
her beautiful u~nstained w~omanhood,
as well as by the power of her sub
lime voice, she stood a moment, then
sang clearly and softly the ballad,
with its refrain of Farewell,
Sweet Land" Accompanying her
came the low, sweet wall of little
Elfin's violin. There was silence in
the great house at the close, then a
shout went out that shook the mighty
pillars.
A whisper being heard that Parepa
Rosa meant to educate the boy mu-
sically, the generous hearts of n few
opened the gates of fortune for little
Elm. To-day he is great and IA
nous, the boy v%iolinist," and they
call him to play before Princes.
1DOmeStic lfOnth1n.